Exeter taxi driver punched to the ground 'by two drunks' on night out A row erupted over who was going to pay for cleaning up the mess
An Asian taxi driver was punched to the ground and his vehicle damaged after a row erupted when a drunken passenger threw up, a court heard.
Mohammed Chowdhury was assaulted by a customer in the front seat after a heated argument over payment for the mess caused by the drunken man in the back, magistrates heard.
He was later attacked outside the taxi, the hearing was told.
The rear passenger, Jordan Dearlove, 29, admitted attacking the man as well as punching and damaging the wing mirror of the car after a night out in the city on December 4.
A second man faces separate charges over the alleged assault of Mr Chowdury but is yet to appear in court.
Witnesses to the incident reported seeing two men outside the red Skoda who looked like they were trying to intimidate someone.
Lyndsey Baker, prosecuting, said the cab driver had been "assaulted by the other man".
"Mr Chowdhury tried to get out but Mr Dearlove closed the door then caused damage to the wing mirror by punching it several times.
"Mr Chowdhury said both men punched him all over his body – he was confused and fell to the ground.
"Mr Chowdhury says he is scared and unable to carry on working – he doesn't feel safe, he has never been the victim of crime before
Dearlove, a security software specialist from Leeward Lane in Torquay, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage but claimed he could not remember anything about the incident, having drunk alcohol and taken cocaine.
Galina Labworth, defending, said the incident had "gone against the grain of everything this professional 29-year-old stands for".
"It was only the fourth time he had gone out in 2016 and consumed alcohol – he is usually out playing golf or fishing," she added.
"He had gone out to celebrate a friend's birthday with people he didn't know and was later very honest and open with police – it was the combination of alcohol which meant he had no recollection.
"He was sick and there was a conversation about compensation for [the driver] clearing it up.
"It was the other man who was violent inside the taxi – Mr Dearlove stayed at the scene whilst the other man ran away.
"It was totally out of character – he is very professional and polite and I am sure nothing of this sort will happen again."
Magistrates said there had been "a very serious assault on a man doing his job by a couple of drunks".
Dearlove pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage and was given 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £250 compensation and £85 in costs.
A second man is due to appear in court in connection with the incident.
Read more at
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/e ... qitzedZ.99